Lifest 2013
Christian Music Festival
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
July 11 – 14, 2013
You don’t know what you’ve had until it’s gone. With pillars
of annual Christian music festivals falling after the 2012 season (Cornerstone,
Purple Door and Ichthus – gone in 2013 but back in 2014 as part of the Creation
festival), Lifest veterans were wondering if theirs would be the next to fall.
Life Promotions, the managing organization of Lifest, in turn made a few lean
modifications to its festival resulting in a successful year and hopefully many
to come.
Lifest, now celebrating its 15th year, has grown
from a small Christian festival to a five day, sprawling event. Due to
economics and related changes to entertainment value, this year’s festival
moved to four days, had a few venue / stage changes, improvements in camping
and access, and the addition of a few country & western Christian bands
(hot on the heals of the Country USA festival also staged in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin). The result of these changes was sold out camping and record to
near-record crowds Thursday through Saturday.
Due to personal obligations, this is the first year in nine
in which I could not attend the entire festival. Despite a shortened stay I was
able to take in The Vespers and Third Day. Both were magnificent in their live
performances bringing the crowd to its feet with hands held high including
Third Day doing an 11:30pm acoustic set! Among the many acts and genres, Mercy
Me, Skillet, Newsboys, Thousand Foot Krutch, JJ Heller, Sleeping Giant, Citizen
Way, TobyMac, Five Iron Frenzy, Remedy Drive, Ilia, Family Force Five, Jimmy
Needham and many more performed. With the addition of many speakers, comedians,
activities, a good food court and an overly active market place there was never
a dull moment. Above all, friends, faith, and good food again made the event a
key summer event.
Lifest is not a cutting edge, progressively focused music
festival. Lifest is a family oriented, Christian-based, music/arts/faith
offering successfully bringing attendees closer to their Father by sharing
their faith. Whether deemed a music or faith based festival, Lifest continues
to be successful in every way.
Scott S Mertens
4 tocks
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